Current salary is not enough to cover expenses
Sharing with Lao Dong, Ms. Vu Thu Minh (35 years old, Hai Phong) in charge of the Secretary of the Court at the local level said: "The salary of 15 million VND/month is not enough to raise 2 children".
Giving a specific cost for 1 month, Ms. Minh said: "After the merger, my husband and I had to move between Hai Duong (old) and the current workplace in Hai Phong City. The lowest travel fee is 1.6 million VND/person. Both of my children are of primary school age, and the tuition fee for 1 month is 2 million VND/child/month.
Electricity and water bills for family activities are 2 million VND/month. Internal and foreign expenses are at least 2 million VND/month. The lowest lunch fee for the couple is 30,000 VND/meal each, about 1,500,000 VND per month, and the money for medicine and necessities,...".
According to Ms. Minh, the above salary is calculated based on the option of not having to rent a house, if this amount is added, the couple will have difficulties.
Agreeing with the above view, Ms. Nguyen Ha Phuong - a teacher at a primary school in Hai Phong City, said that compared to the current salary, the above proposed level is quite high, but compared to the current standard of living, the above level is still quite modest.
Based on the professional title rank, Ms. Phuong receives a monthly salary of 10 million VND. However, it is clear that each spending in a family of 3 mothers and children, the above salary is only enough to pay for the children's education.
"My daily food expenses are 6-7 million VND/month. The fixed tuition fee for first-time schoolmates is 7.3 million VND/month, while the arising expenses such as life insurance, for three people range from 3.5-4 million VND/month" - Ms. Phuong stated.
Ms. Phuong hopes that a salary of 20 million VND/month or more will meet the needs of her family. "The price is getting higher and higher but the salaries of civil servants and public employees remain the same" - Ms. Phuong expressed.
With her current income, Ms. Phuong does not dare to think about saving. "Hopefully, with the proposal to increase salaries for civil servants and public employees, we will have a reserve fund to reduce financial pressure" - Ms. Phuong hopes.
As for young people like Ms. Le Thu Van (25 years old, Hai Phong), the proposal to increase the salary for civil servants and public employees by more than 15 million VND/month is appropriate.
"Currently, I am still living with my family, not having to think about renting a house for 1.5-2 million VND/month (including electricity and water bills). Food and living expenses are about 3-4 million VND/month. The travel fee is 500,000 VND/month, the phone fee is 200,000 VND/month. For weddings and anniversaries, it is about 1.5-2 million VND/month" - Ms. Van shared specifically.
For Ms. Van, the remaining salary can still be developed and saved monthly.
Proposal to increase basic salary
The summary of data from the Statistical Office on GDP in Vietnam and per capita income over the past 5 years is specifically as follows:
GDP in 2020 increased by 2.91%. Although GDP growth in 2020 reached its lowest level in the period of 2011-2020, due to the negative impacts of the Covid-19 epidemic, it was a success with the highest growth rate among the countries in the world.
GDP in 2021 increased by 2.58% compared to the previous year due to the Covid-19 epidemic seriously affecting all sectors of the economy.
GDP in 2022 increased by 8.02% compared to the previous year due to the economic recovery and reached the highest growth rate in the period 2011-2022.
GDP in 2023 will increase by 5.05%, only higher than the growth rate of 2.87% and 2.55% of 2020 and 2021 in the period 2011-2023.
GDP in 2024 increased by 7.09% compared to the previous year, only lower than the growth rate of 2018, 2019 and 2022 in the period 2011-2024.
As of the end of September 2025, GDP is currently increasing by 7.85%, approaching the growth target of 8%.
Meanwhile, the basic salary for cadres, civil servants and public employees is only adjusted twice a year.
GDP growth and per capita income in Vietnam in the period from 2020-2025 are Proposed, with people's income increasing according to the general trend of the economy.
Many opinions propose increasing the basic salary for cadres, civil servants, and public employees to ensure daily life.
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